Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

That e'er my captain fought on foot,
And I stood looking on.

You two be earls," said Witherington, "And I a squire alone :

I'll do the best that do I may,
While I have power to stand:
While I have power to wield my sword,
I'll fight with heart and hand."
Our English archers bent their bows,
Their hearts were good and true;
At the first flight of arrows sent,
Full fourscore Scots they slew.
Yet stays Earl Douglas on the bent,
As chieftain stout and good;
As valiant captain, all unmoved,
The shock he firmly stood.

His host he parted had in three,
As leader ware and tried ;
And soon his spearmen on their foes
Bore down on every side.

Throughout the English archery
They dealt full many a wound ;
But still our valiant Englishmen
All firmly kept their ground.

And throwing straight their bows away,
They grasped their swords so bright;
And now sharp blows, a heavy shower
On shields and helmets light.

They closed full fast on every side,
No slackness there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman
Lay gasping on the ground.

In truth! it was a grief to see

How each one chose his spear,

And how the blood out of their breasts Did gush like water clear.

At last these two stout earls did meet,
Like captains of great might:

Like lions wode, they laid on lode,
And made a cruel fight:

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

That e'er my captain fought on foot,
And I stood looking on.

You two be earls," said Witherington, "And I a squire alone :

I'll do the best that do I may,
While I have power to stand:
While I have power to wield my sword,
I'll fight with heart and hand."
Our English archers bent their bows,
Their hearts were good and true;
At the first flight of arrows sent,
Full fourscore Scots they slew.

Yet stays Earl Douglas on the bent,
As chieftain stout and good;
As valiant captain, all unmoved,
The shock he firmly stood.

His host he parted had in three,
As leader ware and tried ;
And soon his spearmen on their foes
Bore down on every side.

Throughout the English archery
They dealt full many a wound;
But still our valiant Englishmen
All firmly kept their ground.

And throwing straight their bows away,
They grasped their swords so bright;
And now sharp blows, a heavy shower
On shields and helmets light.
They closed full fast on every side,
No slackness there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman
Lay gasping on the ground.

In truth! it was a grief to see

How each one chose his spear,

And how the blood out of their breasts
Did gush like water clear.

At last these two stout earls did meet,
Like captains of great might:
Like lions wode, they laid on lode,
And made a cruel fight:

They fought until they both did sweat,
With swords of tempered steel;
Until the blood, like drops of rain,
They trickling down did feel.

"Yield thee, Lord Percy," Douglas said;
"In faith I will thee bring
Where thou shalt high advanced be

By James, our Scottish king:

Thy ransom I will freely give,
And this report of thee,

Thou art the most courageous knight
That ever I did see."

"No, Douglas," saith Earl Percy then,

"Thy proffer I do scorn;

I will not yield to any Scot

That ever yet was born."

With that there came an arrow keen
Out of an English bow,

Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart,
A deep and deadly blow;

Who never spake more words than these"Fight on, my merry men all;

For why my life is at an end;

Lord Percy sees my fall."

Then leaving life, Earl Percy took
The dead man by the hand;
And said, "Earl Douglas, for thy life
Would I had lost my land.

In truth! my very heart doth bleed
With sorrow for thy sake;
For sure a more redoubted knight
Mischance did never take."

A knight amongst the Scots there was,
Who saw Earl Douglas die,

Who straight in wrath did vow revenge
Upon the Earl Percy :

Sir Hugh Mountgomery was he called,
Who, with a spear full bright,
Well mounted on a gallant steed,

Ran fiercely through the fight;

And past the English archers all,
Without a dread or fear;

And through Earl Percy's body then
He thrust his hateful spear;

With such vehement force and might
He did his body gore,

The staff ran through the other side
A large cloth yard and more.

[blocks in formation]

THE following Ballad probably refers to the fate of the Scottish nobles on their return from Norway after having, in 1281, conveyed Margaret, daughter of Alexander III., to her nuptials with King Eric of Norway. It is supposed to have been written in the fifteenth century, author unknown.

THE BALLAD OF SIR PATRICK SPENS.

THE King sits in Dunfermline toun,
Drinking the blude-red wine;

"O whaur shall I get a skeely skipper,
To sail this ship of mine?"

Then up and spake an eldern knight,
Sat at the King's right knee;
"Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sailed the sea."

The King has written a braid letter,
And seal'd it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens
Was walking on the sand.

"To Noroway, to Noroway,

To Noroway o'er the faem;
The King's daughter to Noroway,
It's thou maun tak' her hame."

« PredošláPokračovať »